Geoffrey Lin

Partner

Geoffrey, managing partner of the firm's Shanghai office, works with global companies to monetize, risk assess, and protect intellectual property central to their businesses. He focuses on structuring technology transfers as well as enforcing clients’ intellectual property rights in the life science and high technology industries.

Geoffrey has advised clients in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, health care, technology, electronics and telecommunications industries and has represented clients such as Johnson & Johnson, Innovent, and CASI Pharmaceuticals.

Experience

Advised China-based Simcere Pharmaceutical Group in a strategic collaboration with Netherlands-based Merus to obtain an exclusive license to develop and commercialize in China three bispecific antibodies using Merus' Biclonics technology platform in immunooncology.

Advised Eli Lilly in its digital healthcare collaboration with leading China internet company Tencent and online healthcare service provider DXY to develop and launch an integrated diabetes patient care platform in China.

Advised JHL Biotech on a strategic alliance with Sanofi to develop and commercialize biological therapeutics in China and potentially internationally. Under the agreement, Sanofi will invest US$80 million in JHL and make an upfront payment of US$21 million to acquire rights to certain JHL biologics. In addition, JHL will be entitled to receive milestones of up to US$236 million and sales royalties.

Advised Innovent Biologics Inc., a leading bio-pharmaceuticals company based in China, with regard to a collaboration of at least three cancer treatments with Eli Lilly and Company, a global healthcare leader. The two companies described their agreement as one of the largest biotech drug collaborations in China between a multi-national and domestic company. Under the terms of the transaction, Lilly will make a US$56 million upfront payment to Innovent, with milestones for a single immuno-oncology drug candidate exceeding US$400 million (for which Geoffrey was highly commended in the Financial Times Asia Innovative Lawyers Report 2016).

Advised Netease, a Chinese internet technology company, in its exclusive license from Mojang to develop Minecraft for China and bring it to the Chinese market.

Advised CASI Pharmaceuticals in its in-licensing of China rights for a portfolio of drug assets from Spectrum Pharmaceuticals which includes two of Spectrum Pharmaceuticals’ commercial oncology drugs and a Phase Three drug candidate for development and commercialization in China.

Advised Healthwise, Incorporated, an Idaho nonprofit corporation, in a digital health education licensing transaction in China with a major Chinese social media corporation.

Represented a U.S. biopharmaceutical company in structuring and developing a joint venture with a Chinese party to develop and commercialize a biologic asset in China, and in drafting and negotiating the definitive agreements, including the out-license and collaboration agreement.

Represented various U.S. and European pharmaceutical companies in collaborations with academic institution, as well as in various in-licenses and out-licenses, promotional agreements, distribution agreements and sourcing agreements. Also represented such companies in relationships in China, establishing research outsourcing relationships and agreements in China, and registering technology licenses to facilitate the transfer of royalty fees out of China.

Represented a U.S. pharmaceutical company in out-licensing a late-stage asset to a collaboration partner for development and commercialization in China.

Represented a U.S. clothing corporation in the negotiation of a collaboration with a large Chinese clothing company to co-develop the China market and expand sales of our client’s products in China.

Represented Schneider Electric in settling the largest intellectual property case in China through appeals, negotiations and drafting of the settlement agreement.

Represented global pharmaceutical companies in addressing generic and biosimilar competitors in China through use of regulatory protections; assessing the strength of the clients’ patent portfolios; developing and executing strategies to prove patent infringement, including developing and utilizing analytical testing methodologies; defending several patents from invalidation actions; monitoring and applying to invalidate competitors’ patents; and strengthening their Chinese patent portfolios.

Represented two private equity firms in their take privates of two technology-focused companies. Assisted the clients with diligence issues and drafting and negotiating the IP related representations, covenants and closing conditions in the acquisition agreements.

Represented a global life sciences company in acquiring a group of Chinese medical device companies by conducting IP due diligence, patent advisement and freedom to operate assessments, and providing risk management advice.

Represented an international chemical company in structuring their agreements between its IP holding entity and their China entities to share their cost and benefits and with recording those agreements to effectuate foreign exchange and payments out of China.

Represented various companies, including a Danish pharmaceutical company, in best practices for technology transfers, perfecting title to intellectual property generated by employees and by collaborators, methods for protecting out-licensed intellectual property and minimizing knowledge leakage or theft, and in performing freedom to operate analyses in China.

Represented a multinational chemical company in assessing its patent portfolio, preparing and gathering evidence, perfecting jurisdiction, initiating litigation in Shanghai on a chemical process patent, and defending its patents against patent invalidation actions.

Represented various clean technology corporations in industries such as biofuel, biogas, and wind energy in bringing their technology to Asia through collaboration and protecting their intellectual property from infringement.

Represented an international consumer electronics company in developing a China patent licensing campaign.

Events

China is one of the most important strategic markets for many life sciences companies. But navigating its constantly changing regulatory environment presents challenges. To successfully seize opportunity in China, companies need to keep up-to-date with its legal requirements ...